Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Tamil Nadu men deported from Turkey for wanting to join IS

Royapettah, Tamil Nadu

Chennai police are keeping a close watch on two youths who were
deported from Turkey a fortnight ago on suspicion of them joining ISIS,
reports TOI.
The two men, one a 23-year-old BCom graduate from Royapettah and a
22-year-old school dropout from Karur in Chennai, had reportedly gone to
Dubai from Bangalore in August after applying a tourist visa before
reaching Turkey. Apparently, the duo had told their respective families
that they were looking for jobs in Bengaluru. The 22-year-old school dropout from Karur was working in a store at Ice
House near Royapettah. Officials, who repeatedly interviewed the men
after their return, did not elaborate much on how the men got attracted
to the terrorist group.

The duo was following instructions of an unknown man in Dubai with
whom one of them was in touch who suggested going directly to Turkey
might raise suspicion. Later they were deported by Turkish authorities for suspicious
movement as a staff of the lodge they were staying informed the police
about them asking about how to cross the border and reach Syria.

TOI quoted
an intelligence official saying, “Ten days ago, they were sent back on a
flight to Bengaluru since that was the Indian city from where they
boarded their first international flight.” Post-deportation, state and central intelligence grilled them upon
which one of the youths revealed that they wanted to join the ISIS
believing, ““they were going to rule the world,” after learning about
them on the Internet.

They were allowed to return to their families after the interrogations were over. According to a state intelligence official, the duo showed no sign of
remorse before eventually breaking down once their families were
brought in. However, the TN police have not slapped any charges on the two after
counselling although a preliminary report by Turkish authorities suggest
that they were trying to join the ISIS.

They spent long hours on
the internet to find out how to get to Syria to join ISIS,“ an official
said. “Someone guided them online, and they took a flight from Bengaluru
to Dubai in August, and from there to Turkey where they were
picked up for `suspicious movements' a fortnight ago.The men had told
their families that they were going to Bangalore in search of a job.Ten
days ago, they were sent back on a flight to Bengaluru since that was
the Indian city from where they boarded their first international
flight.

As soon as they landed in Bengaluru, central and state
intelligence officials interviewed them at an undisclosed place. The
Chennai man told police that he was inspired to join ISIS as he believed
“they were going to rule the world.“
Sources said the men were
adamant about executing their plans till the police brought in their
families.
On seeing their families, the men broke down,“ said an TN intelligence
officer. “We let them go with their families, but they will remain under
our close surveillance.“

The man from Karur was staying with his
uncle in Ice House, Chennai where he worked in a store. He befriended
the BCom graduate, who was helping out his father at his textiles shop
in Royapettah, during Friday prayers at a mosque in Purasawalkam. “The
two used to discuss about joblessness in India. The Chennai guy told him
about job prospects in Syria, where ISIS was ruling the roost. He wanted to join IS and take the
other man along,“ said a source.

On the advise of an unknown
person he had been in touch online, the Chennai man applied for a
tourist visa to Dubai, Turkey and Malaysia, since going directly to
Turkey or Syria would generate suspicion.`The idea was to sneak into
Syria from Turkey ,“ said the source. They left for Bangalore in August
and flew to Dubai. After staying there some time as tourists, they went
to Turkey .After a few days they moved towards the Syria border, the
source said. Staying in a small lodge, they made inquiries
about crossing over to Syria.One of the lodge staffs tipped off the
Turkey officials about the youths. The Turkish officials picked them up.
They told the investigation officers that they were about to fly to
Malaysia, but the officers there found inconsistencies in their
statements. “The Turkish officers had enough reasons to believe that the
youths were trying to get in touch with ISIS in Syria.Hence they
deported them to India,“ said an officer. “They have also sent us a
detailed preliminary inquiry report.“ Police said they were not slapping
any case on the two men. “They have been counselled and watched,“ the
officer said.